Toothbrush



S. SPRAGUE.

TOOTHBRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED Auw?. 1920.

Pandsept. 27, 1921.

//V l/E N 70H A TTOR/VEY .of Fig kUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY SPRAG'UE, OF OSSIN'ING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF-ONE-HALF TO WALTERV,

` SCOTT, OF OSSINING, NEW YORK.

TOOTHBRUSH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 27 1921.

Application led August 17, 1920. Serial No. 404,283.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l', SIDNEY SPRAGUE, a citizen of Great Britain,residing at Ossining, in the county of lVestchester and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Toothbrushes,of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to tooth brushes and refers more particularly toa folding collapsible brush.

The primary object of the present inven tion is to provide a toothbrushwhich includes a plurality of separable bristle carrying sections topermit of the thorough.

cleansing of the same after use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible brush whichmay be folded into' a small compact article to permit of the carrying ofthe saine in the pocket or pocket book of the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tooth brush ofthe character described which includes handle sections constituting ahousing for the bristle carrying sections when folded to prevent thecontact of the bristles with foreign substances.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a folding andcollapsible tooth brush which is extremely simple in construction,inexpensive to manufacture and highly efficient for the purpose forwhich it is intended.

With the above recited and other objects in view, some of which will bemore apparent hereafter, reference is made to the following detaileddescription, appended claims and the accompanying drawings forming apart of this application and in which Figure 1, is a side elevation ofthe brush in its extended position..

Fig. 2, is a plan View thereof.

Fig. 3, is asimilar view illustrating the bristle carrying sections infolded position-y and ready for use. s

Fig. 4, is aside view thereof- Fig. 5, is a similar view illustratingthe bristle carrying sections housed in the han-k dle sections. l

Fig. 6, is an enlarged detail cross sectional View taken approximatelyon'the line 6-6 5. v Re erring to the drawings byI characters ofreference which denote like parts throughout theseveral views thereof,10 and 11 designate reversely formed handle sections each of whichcomprise a side wall 12 and an end wall 13 formed at la right angle tothe side wall. The bristle carrying sections comprise the inner links 14and outer links 15, the former being pivotally secured together as at 16and the latter pivotally secured as at 17, to the free end of the innerlinks 14. The outer free extremities of the outer links l5 are pivotallysecured as at 18 to the handle sections adjacent their inner o en ends.The pivots 18 are disposed at a rig t angle to the axial'center of thepivots 16 and 17 whereby the links 14 and 15 will fold upon themselvesat right angles to the direction of the folding of the handle sections.Each of the links carries a single line of bristles 19 whichl areadapted when the links are folded in parallel relation to each other toconstitute a brush. lVhen the links are brought into parallel relationthel handle sections will be arranged parallel to each other with theend walls 13 in confronting engagement to provide a housing for thefolded bristle sections so that the same'may be swung upon their pivots18 to completely house the bristles and` the links constituting thebristle Carrying sections. The outer end portion of the wall 13 of eachhandle section is provided with an apertured lug 20 which constitutes ameans for hanging the brush from a hook or other supporting element whennot in use. The side walls, 12 of the handle members are rovided with acutaway portion 21 to Za ord means to permit of the opening of thebristle sections from the handle after the same have been foldedtherein. The pivots 18 which secure the links 15 to the handle aredisposed a sufficient distance from the end of the handle to cause theportion 22 of the end wall 13 to function as a stop to limit theswinging movement of the handle sectionsin one direction whereby toaline the links with the handle sections.

In use of the brush when it is desired to thoroughlyI cleanse thebristlesthe links are extended as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings,thus permitting each row of bristles to be independently washed andthoroughly cleansed of any foreign matter adhering thereto. Whenit isdesired to use the brush, the links 14 are folded upon themselves to aparallel position and the outer links 15 folded inwardly as illustratedin Fig. 3, of the drawings alon side of the inner links thus positioningeac line or row ofbristles 19 in parallel relation to form a unitarybrush. In this position the walls 13 of the handle sections are broughtinto confronting engagement to constitute a housing into which thefolded bristle carrying sections or links may be swung upon their pivots18 which are now in axial alinement, thus providing a folding andcollapsible brush which may be conveniently carried on the person of theuser.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a single andpreferred yembodiment of the invention has been illustrated as onepractical example of the invention but it is understood that the rightis reserved to embodiments other than those actually illustrated to thefull extent indicated by the general meaning of the terms in which theclaims are expressed and to variations in the phraseology of the same.

What I claim as my invention is l. A tooth brush comprising a pluralityof pivotally connected bristle carrying sections adapted to be foldedinto parallel relation with respect to each other and handle sectionspivoted to the free outer end of the outermost bristle sections at aright angle to the axis of the pivotal connection between the bristlecarrying sections.

2. A tooth brush comprising aplurality of pivotally connected bristlecarrying sections adapted to be folded into parallel relation withrespect to each other and handle sections pivoted `to the free outer endof the outermost bristle sections ata right angle to the axis of thepivotal connection between the bristle carrying sections, theconfronting faces of said handle sections having right angularlydisposed flanges at one edge thereof which constitute means for housingthe bristle carrying sections when the same are folded into the handlesections.

3. A tooth brush including a plurality of brush elements, eachcomprising bristles and a bristle supporting member having hingedconnection at the opposite ends thereof whereby to permit of an end toend or side by side arrangement thereof, and recessed handle membershingedly connected to the outer free ends of the outermost bristlesupporting members for respectively housing said brush elements whenarranged side by side and to constitute a handle therefor when open withrespect thereto.

4. A tooth brush comprising a plurality lof pivotally connected linkseach provided with a single row of bristles, said sections being adaptedwhen folded into parallel relation with each other to constitute amultiple row bristle brush and recessed handle sections pivotallysecured to the outer free extremities 0f the outer links adapted whenthe links are folded to provide a foldable housing for said bristlecarrying links.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature.

SIDNEY SPRAGUE.

